Judge sets deadline for lawyers in tobacco-fees case

DALLAS {AP} A federal judge Friday gave lawyers who represented Texas in negotiations with the tobacco industry two weeks to accept a $3.3 billion award for their work or seek more from the state.

The five lawyers are seeking an additional $2.3 billion from the $17.3 billion Texas is due to receive from tobacco companies.

Texas Attorney General John Cornyn, a Republican, has leveled charges of double-dipping against the lawyers, who were hired by his predecessor, Democrat Dan Morales. His office hailed the judge's decision to set a deadline for the lawyers Cornyn and the private lawyers were unable to negotiate a deadline.

Judge David Folsom in Texarkana ruled that the lawyers have had 10 months to decide whether to take the $3.3 billion arbitration award or pursue the separate claim against the state.

"We think this is a very significant and positive step forward," said assistant attorney general Andy Taylor.

While Cornyn and his aides were happy about the deadline, Folsom rejected the attorney general's motion to throw out the lawyers' request for money from the state. He also dismissed an effort by seven legislators to move the case to the Texas Supreme Court.

Folsom, however, granted motions by Gov. George W. Bush and the legislators all critical of the private lawyers to intervene in the case.

The Washington lawyer for the five attorneys who represented Texas in the tobacco negotiations did not return phone calls. The attorneys are John Eddie Williams and John O'Quinn of Houston, Walter Umphrey and Wayne Reaud of Beaumont, and Harold Nix of Daingerfield.